Bouen



.A. W. TOURGEE & L. DEF. JENNINGS.

BUCKLE.

No. 327,622. I Patented Oct. 6, 1885 digit/ W INVENNTDR.

V m 1% .kowgu &.adm

T022113 whom it may concern:

UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

ALBION wj,,ToURc E AND LINSON can F. Jnnn ncs, or MAYVILLE, raw YORK, Assrcnons TO LINSON nn 'ronREsrJnnniNes AND s. n. K n

. BOUR-N, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,622, dated October 6, 1885.

' Application filed February 6, 1885. Serial No. 155,105. .(No model.)

Be it known that we, ALBION W. ToURenn and LINsoN DE FORREST JENNINGS, citizens of the United States, residingat Mayville, in

Improvements in Buckles or Strap Fastening Devices; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in:

vention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and'fig uresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 1

Our invention has for its object to provide a novel and simplified device or buckle for securely holding the ends of leather straps or other free ends of narrow forms of flexible fabrics or material, the same being designed more especially for use in connectiouwith 11211 ness, although equally applicable forall purposes where a buckle or clasp is found necessary or desirable, said device being adapted to securely hold the strap or straps without piercing, bending, or abrading the same, or in any manner affecting the strength or durability or preventing the use of said straps for other purposes; and our invention consists,

essentially, of a flat metallic plate having at the end a double inclined plane terminating in a transversely-arranged slot or opening and pro vided with metallic sliding thirnbles or bands, said combination of double inclined planes, transverse slot, and metallic sliding thimble being designed for use either separately or in connection with others of like character upon the prolongation of the same metallic plate on the upper or under side of the same or upon radiating branches of the same, or connected by a rigid, flexible, or jointed frame, so as to form a double or compound buckle which may be applied to straps leading in various directions, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically designated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved device; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the same; Figs. 3 and 4, top planviews, and Fig. 5 a u perspective view ofv a modification thereof.

Similar letteisof reference occurring on the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

In carrying out ourinvention the endsof the metallic plate A are bent or lapped over a sufficie'ntdistan'ce upon the body of' said plate to form the double inclined planes 0: a, which may be either elastic or solid, .thereverse sides of said plate being preferably cor-- rugated or roughened, to assist in holding the metallic thimbles or bands I) in position upon the strap when attached-to the complete device. The outer endsof the inclined planes thus formed are preferably of "a semicircular shape and provided with a frictional bar or lug, c, which extends transversely acrosst-he same, a suitable loop or transversely-slotted bearing, B, being provided at the outer ends of the inclined planes, as shown, said loops or transverselyslotted bearin gs and the connecting-plate A being arranged either in the same plane or at suitable angles to each other. The device thus constructed may be either flat, round, or of other available shape, and of any width or length, and may be formed singly or in a series. The two fastening ends may be formed either upon the same or opposite sides of the metallic plate.

In the operation of our improved device-the ends of the strap or straps to be secured thereto are inserted through the transverse slotor bearing B, and then bent down over the transverse friction-bar c and the upper surface of the inclined plane a, upon which it is retained in position by the sliding thimble or band I), 85 which, acting in conjunction with the peculiar-shaped inclined plane or spring-incline, the natural elasticity of the leather or other material of which the strap is composed, the corrugated under surface of the metallic plate, 0 and the frictional. lug or bar 0 serves to distribute t-he strain upon the entire end of the strap to securely hold it in position without abrading or chafing the same at any point.

lVe do not wish to confine ourselves to the 9 5 specific construction as above described, as it is obvious that various changes or modifications may be made in the same-such as forming the inclined planes solid with the connecting-plate A, as shown in Fig. 5, dispensing with the corrugations upon the reverse sides of said plate, using the said double inclined planes, or the said spring-incline, in connection with the transverse slot and sliding thimbles, either singly or in pairs or groups, connecting such devices by variously formed and shaped plates, or by a hinged or jointed framework, using the combination of inclined planes or spring-inclines with sliding thimbles, in connection with any suitable attachment to the home strap or material to which a strap or other narrow flexible form is to be connected, the making of compound clasps or buckles by the combination of several of the said devices in the same or different planes, and connecting straps leading in different directions, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, as also providing suitable means by which said device may be sewed, riveted, or otherwise secured to one end of a permanent or home strap or other desired article without departmg from the spirit of our invention, and such changes or modifications are hereby contemplated by us.

It will also be apparent that our improved device is capable of being attached to any strap that will pass through the transverse slot without any shaping, compression, or perforation of the strap, which may be adjusted 1n an instant of time without the use of haminers, pinchers, awl, or other mechanical appliance, and may be removed with like facility, the strap also being capable of being readily shifted upward or downward without removing the same from the transverse slot or sliding band, thereby greatly facilitating the shortening or lengthening of the attached strap or straps.

The inclination of the transverse slot to the plane of the connecting-plate forms a most reliable means for securing or increasing the mechanical grip upon the strap, aided by the sliding bands, which are held, preferably, although not necessarily, in position upon the same by means of the slight corrugations upon the reverse side of the connecting-plate.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and useful 1. The metallic plate A, formed with the double inclined plane a a, and provided with the transverse frictional bar a, the sliding band I), and the transversely-slotted bearing or loop B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The metallic plate A, constructed as described, with the corrugations upon the re verse side to that of the fastening device, in combination with the sliding thimble or band b,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The metallic plate A, constructed as described, with two or more double inclined planes, each provided with the transverse frictional bar 0, the sliding band I), and transversely-slotted bearing or loop B, whereby a double or compound buckle or clasp is provided for holding two or more straps leading in the same or different directions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALBION W. TOURGEE. LIN SON DE F. JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

T. D. BALDWIN, J. B. DAVIS. 

